Machine for coating confectionery.



No. 866,702. PATENTED SEPT. 24, 1907.

W. H. WEEKS.

MACHINE FOR COATING CONFBGTION ERY.

APPLIOATION FILED M121. 1907.

SSHEETS-SHEET 1.

MACHINE FOR COATING GONPECTIONERY.

APPLICATION FILED I'EB.21.1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A TTORNEY.

PATENTED SEPT. 24, 1907.

W. H. WEEKS.

MACHINE FOR COATING GONFBGTIONERY.

APPLICATION FILED P111311. 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

IN VE N TOR WITNESSES Mada m A TTUB NE V.

WILLIAM n. WEEKS, OF PHILADELPHIA,

PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR COATING CONFECTIONERY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, 1907.

Application filed February 21 1907. Serial No. 358,632.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. WEEKS, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Coating Confectionery, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to machines for coating cream candy cores or other solid filling material, with chocolate or other soluble coating substance which will solidify on exposure to air; and hasfor its objects a carrying forward and improvement of the machine a machine for coating confectionery,

the opposite-disposed pair-of guide-brackets for the shown and described in U. S. Letters Patent granted tome May 8,1906, No. 820,030, wherein is described employing a detachable dipping tray, said machine operating on the principle of a horizontally-inclined movement of-the dipping-frame through the solution tank, effecting a downwardlydnclined.sidewise dipping of the coresupporting tray therein. Said method of dipping (as.

contra-distinguished from a perpendicular dipping) obviates the necessity for any cover for the detachable core-holding tray, enables the supporting and carrying of a series of such trays, instead of a single tray at each dipping as heretofore, enables a detached tray to be operatively supported on the dipping frame, during dipping, solely by gravity aided by the weight of the tray; and finally, by appropriate construction and arrangement of the tray-receiving frame relatively to the solution tank and the moving dipping frame and its actuating devices, each tray, in the series, is, after dipping, brought into horizontal parallelism with said tray-receiving frame, and automatically discharged 35 thereon by and from the moving dipping frame. The machine described in said Letters Patent comprises elements so operating, and I refer to said Letters Patent. for a full disclosure thereof. r My present invention is predicated thereon and consists first in improved means to guide the movable dipping'frame through the solution tank, and secondly in the provision of a tray-feeding device at the receiving end of the tank, operating to support, temporarily, each core-filled tray as placed thereon by the operator, with means between such supporting feed-device and the dipping frame whereby the tray is released from its support at the proper time and automatically caught by and received upon the moving dipping frame, and by the latter carried through the solution, as aforesaid, and finally is brought, as before, into parallelism with land automatically discharged. upon the receiving frame at the delivery endof the machine.

In the drawings illustrating my present invention: Figure 1 is a vertical section through the longitudinal center of'the solution tank, showing in elevation one of chine, with my new automatic tray-support at the feed end of the tank. Fig. 3 is a detached view of the latter and of its coacting elements on the dipping frame, the

parts being shown in initial and locked position; and Fig. 4 is a detached part of the same elements in released position, showing-the tray caught bythe moving dipping frame. I Referring now to said drawings: tank to receive the coating solution; it is substantially an oblong rectangle in planular outline; its double bottom provides a hollow space a containing perforated pipes a, with inlet pipe b and'discharge pipe b to supply hot water thereto to maintainthe chocolate or other solution in proper liquid condition suitable for coating purposes. V

The tank is constructed with a horizontally-inclined bottom for the purpose primarily of causing a gravity flow of the liquid solution, shallow or tray-discharging end towards the tray-receiving end, to insure a dipping movement below the surface of the solution, and for the further purpose of bringing the tray, face of the liquid the tray-receiving matically discharged by the movable dipping-frame d.

The solution tank is suitably supported above the factory floor, as by standards B, B, arranged in pairs at the opposite ends of the tank;

and in horizontal parallelism with A is an open-topped 'and drippings, fi'om the" at the discharge end, above the suri the standards B, B

at the shallow end being utilized as bearings for the main driving-shaft b which extends through saidstandards. The machine is otherwise provided with like actuating mechanism, as in my former patent referred to, for operating the endless-chain dipping-frame which carries the detachable core-supporting trays.

The movable dipping-frame consists of the oppositely-disposed parallel endless chains 11'', d, connected at suitable intervals by pairs of cross-bars r, preferably in the form. of angle-irons, which are thus adapted to support the opposite longitudinal edges of a core-holding tray 5. Each endless chain of this dipping-frame is driven by a pair ofsprocket-wheels (Band m; the I smaller sprocket wheels d d are mounted on the driven shaft c at the shallower end of the tank, while the larger sprockets m, m, are arranged at the receiving end of the tank, and mounted on the shaft 11. journaled at each end in a hub, set into the inner face of each vertical wall of the tank, .as described in my former patent. The two pairs of sprocket wheels are so proportioned in size, and arrangedprelatively to the deep and shallower parts of the tank, that a core-holding tray in position on the dipping-flame, ready to bedipped, will be slightly above the solution in the i i tank; while at the point above the smaller sprocket wheel, a core-holding tray and is resting on the endless chain dipping-frame,

resting coincident with the receiving and in the same horizontal plane back of the tray, carried by the moving dipping-frame,

'. 'begins'to descend again, the detached tray will be automatically pushed forward by said bar and slid onto the said receiving frame, and so on for each tray-in the series as it reaches that point.

'The'series of angle-iron cross-bars 1 connecting the endless chains 01 d arranged in pairs at suitable in.- tervals thereon, are well adapted tosupport and maintain in' position solely by gravity and their weight the filled core-holding trays through the coating solution in the tank and freely permit the tray to be slid off the same onto the receiving-frame, but they perform an additional function, namely, the vertical portion of the angle-bar 1, carried wa y h m i ipp n am operate by .e pushing contact against the detached tray to slide it off the dipping-frame and onto the receiving frame N,

while the next succeeding tray brought .to the same position by the dipping-frame displaces the preceding tray on the receiving frame, pushing it forward to the pivoted discharge end thereof, as in said former patent described. a 1

Guiding devices to direct the endless chain dippingframe in the requisitepath of movement .through the tank, consist of a pair of brackets S, ,S, .show n in ,detached elevation in Fig. 2, and in position in the tank, in Fig. 'l These brackets comprise an arm s, vertically slotted as at s, with along curved bearing face s and are secured in a depending position to the vertical walls of the tank by set screws s or equivalent means, passing through the slot and hence vertically adjust able. The brackets are mounted at such position on the walls of the tank'as to abut midway of the sprocket wheels (1 and m, and to bring the chain dipping-frame, at the center of its plane of movement, below the same in about the same plane with the shaft n upon which the larger sprocket wheel is mounted, so as to insure e pp n by and carried below the curved face of said guiding bracket S, and hence sufficiently near the base of the tank and below the solution therein. I

The core-receiving trai 5 is anopen wire basket,

' with core-holding pockets formed by bending the cross-wires at suitable intervals. These are well known in the art, examples of which will be found in German patent to Reiche' No. 18943 dated December 11, 1881 and numerous U. S. patentssince then, notably U. S. Patents No. 684, 1471dated October 8, 1901 and No. 828,694 dated August 14, 1906, both granted to me. For use with my present machine herein described the essentials'of such a tray are that it shall have core-holding pockets and a I dipped in the chocolate solution the cores be coatof the tray into the tank as the tray emerges from the u solution,

ed and the surplus solution drip through the interstices and that, as to size and shape, it shall be capable of resting, by gravity, on the chain dippingwhich' has been dipped frame N so that as such cross-bar r,

during the passage of both,

of the tray below the solution in the tank. Eachopposite chain of the dipping frame is thus guided frame that is so far open that when 5 until released therefrom...

epr s 7 m y b twi ted frame, with the frame wires of its long sides resting on and between the pairs of angle-bars r thereon.

At the shallow end of the tank, which is the traydischarging end, is mounted the tray-receiving frame. N so located as to co-act with the movable dippingframe, in order that as each detached tray resting on' the latter between any pair of supporting bars 1' thereon, is carried thereby through the solution, it emerges therefrom in such manner that one of its longitudinal edges is brought into coincidence with the adjaqentd of the rec i g-h me h c as th hippies ame eht h e rem ve, t e a gl -he be; f s th heeh and upp ng he r ar dg of th th y, p ate is ati a y Pus th h yl h h me a d d et y onto the receiving frame N. The number ,of such sets of tray-supports is governed by the operatiye length ,of the .d pp s he an as h wn n the drawin s .thte w l see, en h e t ay ay es n th elm-e and i rwe -lhe ihg nes of h hem a th em h e- T e trey-. e e y h and it edihhet past h by is g n a v i a yibret y meyehieh between the reception of each tray thereon, ,to shake off the surplus coating from ,the cores, the means to P du su h he e y m vemen and h rea wa d. nged ex en n .of the rece v ablei t be v s d t .d seha s h .trey e hts'an the em h in .my f rm pa nt Ne .039 and eed set f t d ib d- 7 But i t me h h of that net:

t vthebreye, whi h a meheel fi l d with-sores t9 be ated w r Pla ed y th perato irect y es the ppin -heme be we h th near s t .o an le-ba e n to .ee hph h wh eh the .h er is we h pp d e stopped.

Th most i p rta .i ethxe .e my presen ih ht en ie the Pro sidh 9 m eh a tgme i e .ieed he l d treye to th moving d p g-heme and when i the mach ne; and

stoppingthe continuous operation y n te me hani m or ha pu pe e ehew h p an v ew, in p a th eeletiqh task i gan n eta l i w in s 4 nd '1 wi 1 W- 1 l .be-

.A t e ep I l i -i s hde h ask A i fih d mounted a pair of upri ht standards -2 .of such p, a 3, e ephe in an in d di eeti h (s F gs- 4 and .5) e Pa f eh teb h bare, pr e eb y angle-iron bars 5, on the upright and basal portions of which is supp rted and g ide h PPQei-. frame bars of'the tray 5. Between these standards 2 fix d y un e a .ee hg rase-rod e wh eha e peh e e hinge eefi for e eteh fihse 6 wh eh a ly meeh e b t m w y ts leng h a d ,1

we eh p e b t e k hs and 1e x leee ing trigger. The lower end .Of this latcll finger .6 eatnds wnwa d o a P n e th i p n -hem .d where, in normal position, it will be struck by the passing angle-bars r on the movable dipping frame. The

pp k hi th s la h i e 6 ie ehfi ei h y ahye .or provided with a bend 9 at the errtreme end, toeper- ,ate as ahook to engage the adjacent fr ame wire ofthe y 5, and n rrh y' ld i 1 the ie i gtsme here T m n ain su h hin d finger 6 in eueh herhiel ncl ne P i ieh; th l sse end is made heavier than its upper end, or in lieu thereof heed h ewe -r d 4, with a ns t e epeer en of the its opposite e ds bearing tively; but I prefer to make the lower end of the finger heavier or weighted, for maintaining the finger in the required inclined position normally.

The tray being filled with cores to be coated is placed by the operator on the feeding-frame, with its rear frame wire engaging the hooked end of the pivoted latch-finger 6, as shown in Fig. 4; and this without down the inclined feeding-frame and be deposited,

directly upon the traveling dipping-frame, its rearward edge falling into position over the particular actuating bar 7, the tray coming to a stop on the dipping-frame between said actuating bar 1' and the next forward reversely-set angle-bar r on the dipping-frame, and so on as respects each tray placed on the feeding-frame; the trays being carried forward thereby, through the solution in a sidewise direction as shown in Fig. 1, and finally lifted out of the solution by the dipping frame and deposited automatically on the receiving-frame N as shown in Fig. 6, at the opposite and discharge end of the machine.

I do not wish to limit myself to the particular details of the tray-feeding mechanism, as it is obvious that some of the elements may be substituted by equivalents, but the essential principle thereof is embodied in an inclined tray-feeding frame, adapted to support a tray temporarily held thereon by engaging devices, and to slidingly discharge it therefrom automatically by and onto the passing dipping-frame by engagement therewith of tray-holding and supporting devices thereon adapted to receive it.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a machine for coating cores by a sidewise dipping, comprising a suitable solution receptacle, an endless chain dipping-frame. means to actuate the same, and a receiv-' ing frame adapted to automatically receive thereon a detarhcd core-holding tray delivered to it by said dippingframe after dipping; of means to direct the path of move ment of the dipping-frame through the solution receptacle in a downwardly-inclined and then in an upwardlyinclined horizontal direction, said means consisting of a pair of oppositely-(lisposed sector-shaped brackets mount cd in a depending position on the opposite vertical walls of the solution receptacle, said brackets having curved guiding taees adapted to direct the forward path of movement of the dipping-frame.

2. In a machine for coating cores by a sidewise dipping, comprising a suitable solution receptacle, a movable dipping-frame adapted to operatively support a detached core-holding tray, means to direct the path of movement of said dipping-frame through the solution receptacle in a downwardly-inclined and then an upwardly-inclined horizontal direction, with means to receive the tray dis charged by the dipping-frame, of means to automatically fcctl thetray to the movable dipping-frame, said means consisting of a tray-feedingframe mounted in a downof the solution tank, means to normally hold the tray on 'said feeding-frame, and means actuated by the movable dipping-frame to release the tray from said inclined trayfeeding frame.

3. In a machine for coating cores by a sidewise dipping, comprising a suitable solution tank, a movable dippingframe adapted to operatively support a detached coreholding tray, means to direct the path of movement of said dippingframe through the solution in a downwardly-' inclined and then an upwardly-inclined horizontal direction, with means to receive the tray discharged by the dipping-frame, of means to automatically feed the tray to the movable dipping-frame, said means consisting of a pair of upright standhrds, a pair of tray-supporting frame-bars mounted thereon in an inclined position over the tank, a connecting cross-rod between said standards, a latch-finger pivotally mounted intermediate its length on said cross-bar, with means to maintain said latchtinger in an inclined position with one end thereof adapted to engage a tray on said frame-bars and the other end to be tripped by a tray-supporting bar on the dippingframe.

4. In a machine for coating cores by a sidewise dipping, the combination with a suitable solution tank, and a movable dipping-frame operatively supported and actuated therein in a horizontally-inclined direction, with means to support. a coreholding tray thereon, of tray-feeding and tray-receiving devices at the respective opposite ends of the solution tank, adapted to be actuated by said dipping-frame and operating to automatically deliver and discharge a tray to and from said frame.

In testimony whereof,,l have hereunto aflixed my signature this third day of January A. D. 1907.

WILLIAM H. WEEKS, Witnesses A. M. BIDDLE, H. '1. FENTON. 

